Library celebrates Frankenstein’s 200th birthday

The Fresno County Library’s Bookshelf column shares suggestions for books, music, and other items, and provides information about library programs.

Happy 200th Birthday, Frankenstein!

▪ “Monstrous Progeny: A History of the Frankenstein Narratives,” by Lester D. Friedman. A study that traces the roots of the famous story back several centuries and forward to today, with the monster adorning cereal boxes, cartoons and other mass-market cultural artifacts.

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“Monstrous Progeny: A History of the Frankenstein Narratives” by Lester D. Friedman

RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PRESS

▪ “The New Annotated Frankenstein,” by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley; edited by Leslie S. Klinger. Some 200 illustrations, a thousand explanatory footnotes, and lists of films and other adaptations provide depth guaranteed to please any Frankenstein fanatic.

▪ “Frankenstein” (DVD). Enjoy the 1931 classic with Boris Karloff, Colin Clive and Mae Clarke in a newly-remastered, wide-screen format. A film that’s attained the kind of immortality Henry Frankenstein himself sought. Directed by James Whale.

Top 5 Most Requested Books

▪ “The Great Alone,” by Kristin Hannah.

▪ “Night Moves: An Alex Delaware Novel,” by Jonathan Kellerman.

▪ “Look for Me: A Novel,” by Lisa Gardner.

▪ “Fifty Fifty,” by James Patterson.

“Fifty Fifty” by James Patterson

LITTLE, BROWN AND COMPANY

▪ “The Woman in the Window: A Novel,” by A.J. Finn.

New Arrivals

▪ “Zero Day: A Novel,” by Ezekiel Boone. The final installment in the author’s “Hatching” series: A vast army of spiders is on track to overtake the world, and their human opponents fight among each other on how best to eliminate the menace.

▪ “My Name is Venus Black: A Novel,” by Heather Lloyd. After her release from prison, the young adult heroine of this story tries to go straight in Seattle – and finds herself drawn back to the same type of people and situations that first got her into trouble.

“My Name is Venus Black” by Heather Lloyd

THE DIAL PRESS

▪ “Grief Works: Stories of Life, Death, and Surviving,” by Julia Samuel. Straight from the mouths of those who have experienced loss, here are coping strategies, handy hints, philosophical observations – and messages of profound understanding.

▪ Poetry Writing Class: Learn the basics of poetry writing with Fresno’s first poet laureate, James Tyner. Each class will cover a different aspect of the craft, from imagery to metaphor, and where to submit your writing. Registration required. 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Betty Rodriguez Regional Library. Details: 559-600-9245.